Monday, October 1, 2012

To Kill a Mockingbird

This year, as part of a citywide reading initiative, Attleboro will be reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. In this National Endowment for the Arts program participants are
encouraged to read the same book at the same time – and extend their
connection to the chosen text through local arts and culture activities.

In response to this novel, Attleboro Arts Museum is coordinating a special exhibition that is inspired by one of the book’s key themes – “loss of innocence” in children. The exhibition will represent the loss of innocence in the form of 15 creatively constructed “nests.”

I have been invited to create one of these nests and to have it included in this commemorative Museum exhibition. Mine will represent the experience of a teen girl who lost her parents to a car accident when she was 13 years old. It was a devastating loss for her. Fortunately she had an uncle who was able to take responsibility for her care. Then her uncle died of cancer. Another traumatizing loss.

Today, in spite of her experiences and continued sadness, my youth demonstrates strength and resilience of character. She has been able to continue at her same school, is on the honor roll and plans to go to college to become a social worker.

With my nest, I hope to represent the transcendence from trauma to strength in the presence of turmoil. And to illustrate the spirit and courage required to transform a bleak situation into a bright future full of possibilities.

Attleboro Arts Museum

One‐day invitational exhibition

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

7-8:30 pm

Evening reception and Big Read recognition event that honors each artist and their piece in the show. Free and open to all.

About Me

Jodi Colella works with a broad range of materials to create provocative, tactile works that often include public participation. She has exhibited at Danforth Art Museum; Fruitlands Museum; Wheaton College; Helen Day Art Center; Museums of York; World of Threads Toronto Canada and Textile Museum Washington D.C., among others. Her awards include 2016 Residency at Compeung in Thailand, 2015 Artist Residency at Weir Farm Historic National Park in CT, 2014 Artist Residency at Da Wang Culture Highland in Shenzhen China, 2013 Artist-in-Residence Fruitlands Museum, Pollack-Krasner Fellowship Vermont Studio Center, and Somerville Arts Council Fellowships 2018, 2015, 2012. She has been featured in Huffpost Art & Culture, Artscope, The Boston Globe, 3D Textile Arts, 500 Felt Objects and BU Arts & Science Magazine. She is a member of Boston Sculptors Gallery, The American Craft Council, and International Sculpture Center. Jodi teaches internationally at Center for the Arts Skopelos, Society for Craft in Pittsburgh, SDA’s Confluence in Minneapolis plus many local venues. She lives and works in Somerville, Massachusetts USA and most days can be found lost in her studio.